Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp 'disagreed over signing £85m Darwin Nunez... with the Reds manager pushing through the deal' - despite the club's recruitment team 'targeting a different £53m Premier League forward'

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Liverpool's recruitment team would have preferred to sign a different Premier League star ahead of Darwin Nunez two years ago, according to a report.

Nunez joined Liverpool from Benfica in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth £85million, but has struggled to live up to the expectations he arrived with so far.

The Uruguayan has netted 33 times in 92 appearances in his Reds career so far, but has been criticised for his finishing in recent times, with his lack of cutting edge in front of goal on show again on Wednesday in his side's 2-0 loss to rivals Everton.

He missed a guilt-edge chance in the first half of the game, firing straight at Jordan Pickford with the score at 1-0 in the game.

According to The Times, Liverpool's recruitment team weren't keen on signing Nunez when he joined the club, but Jurgen Klopp managed to persuade the club to move for his services instead of Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku.

Jurgen Klopp (right) disagreed with Liverpool's recruitment team over the signing of Darwin Nunez two years ago

The forward has struggled for form in front of goal and missed a good chance against Everton on Wednesday evening

Klopp wanted to sign the £85million Nunez, with the recruitment team eyeing up a different Premier League star

Nkunku joined Chelsea for £53m in the summer, and there were high hopes for his performances before he picked up a serious injury in pre-season.

That kept him out for around three months, but he has been dealing with hip and hamstring injuries since and could miss the remainder of the season with the Blues.

Prior to his issues, however, he was a lethal forward lighting up the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig and on the radar of most of Europe's top teams.

That included Liverpool, with the recruitment team identifying him as the long-term Roberto Firmino replacement a year for the Brazilian's departure.

He scored a total of 70 goals in 172 appearances for Leipzig before making the move  to Chelsea last summer.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, led the criticism of Nunez on Sky Sports after Liverpool's defeat to Everton, urging his side to make a decision on his future.

Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku was of interest to the Reds before he made the move to London

Jamie Carragher led the criticism of Nunez following another tough display against Everton

'I think I'm at the stage with Nunez now where I don't think there is a question to ask,' Carragher said. 'He gives it everything, he runs, he causes trouble, he gets the odd goal and assist, but after two years, with Liverpool this season going for the title and those big games, you need him to score at Old Trafford, Goodison, at Atalanta.

'This is not October or November this is the business end of the title race.

'We've all been in squads where first year we say he needs to get to speed, but you're looking at it now, I don't think there will be a massive improvement. I think after two years we've seen what he is, he can cause trouble and be erratic with his finishing

'I don't think it's enough to win the biggest trophies, so I think there's a big decision to be made on him.'